The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-06-18

We also started on our homeward
way, not little mystifed by the affair.
A solution awaited us on entering our
salon, for there laid the purse where,
just for an instant it had been laid by
mademoiselle while she gave a highly
important pat to the little curls around
her face and a farewell tilt to her
hat.
The next morning an apologize note
that Nellie had written with downcast
air was conveyed to its destination by
means of the address that the officer had
taken down, and the unpleasantness was
dismissed from our conversation, if not
entirely from our minds.
Nearly two years later, at the close of
long summer day, we found ourselves
in little cultivated bit Of ground that
seemed to cling to the rugged side of
Swiss mountain. A succession of scenes
and impressions new to mind attuned
to nature had so beguiled us that before
we commenced the descent to our hotel
the deep shadows of night were closing
fast about us.
We ran down as quickly as the loosely
scattered stones would permit, dread
ing place midway down the mountain
side, where a late torrent had washed
trees, rocks and earth across our path for
many yards.
Nellie suddenly gave sharp cry and
fell, confused mass Of dark clothing
and sliding stones at my feet.
II have sprained my ankle" she
cried, and before could reply manly
voice speaking with slight foreign ac-
cent was heard.
''Pray allow me to assist you, madame.
I was little in advance of you,,' he
added, and am glad to be able to Of
fer you my arm, for the path is really
perilous at this hour. >
He gently raised Nellie from heap
on the ground to her own slender,
graceful height.
An attempt to step, however, was so
painful that he rather carried than as
sisted her. At the door of our hotel
the opportune young man was revealed
by the light to be dark eyed and pleas
ing of feature.
Something in the trick of his voice, as
Nellie having been deposited on the
sofa, he bowed and left us, seemed ia
miliar, but the impression was gone in a
moment.
The next morning the card of Ernest
de la Perriere was handed to me and l
found the kindly face of our cavalier
of the previous night before me, anxious
to know if madame had rested well and
if he who was so desole at the mishap,
might be allowed to shorten her hours of
confinement by sending some new books
and flowers.
What could do but smile on SO pleas
ant an offer for my young sister, and
permit any one disposed to be sympa-
thetic to make an occasional visit.
The tedium of our stay and Nellie's
slow recovery was lightened to an extent
that soon alarmed me, for I detected a
brightness in Nellie's face when NJ. de
la Perriere's fair face was heard, and
soft, almost caressing tone in his voice
when saying only the commonplace
greetings of the day.
What was best to do2 1 had not been
wise in allowing a stranger to ingratiate
himself into our favor
l sat one day worrying my poor,
raclled brain once more in contriving a
way to diminish the intimacy l now felt |
to have been rashly encouraged.
Suddenly NJ. de la Perriere stood be-
fore me, begging to be allowed to sit
by my side. He told me in plain, earn
est words, Of his love for Nellie and his
desire to make her his wife. He gave
me undisputable proof Of his wealth,
good position, and high moral char
acter.
What weight was lifted from my
heart need not tell Of warm assent and
sisterly congratulations.
We returned TO the hotel and I judi
ciousIy left the enamored swain to tell
the old, old story.
When next I entered the room Nellie
was looking quietly content. and Ernest